If you want HO scale coal, then you go to a building supply dealer, the kind that deals in sand blasting equipment. Examine the sand blasting medium, there are several kinds, and many of them look exactly like HO scale coal, even the correct colors and all.
If you want to load your hoppers at the tipple, this is the way to go. Stuff is so cheap you can make piles of it wherever you like on your layout. I assume that your cat does not run around on your layout.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Make sure to make the base with a realistic angle of repose. Too many model "piles of whatever" are unrealistically steep. For bituminous coal the angle of repose is 35 degrees. That's roughy 1 foot rise per 1.42 feet horizontal. Anthracite coal takes a flatter slope at 24 degrees.
Ray
Yes, use a chunk of something and then coatit with coal, using something like white glue to stick it on. Paint the chunk of whatever black first, that way if there are any bare spots, you won't see pink or blue foam sticking through. If using foam, use latex craft paints or similar so it doesn't the foam.
You CAN make the pile by piling up however much coal you want, but getting it thoroughly filled with adhesive so it stays together and is more than just a hard crust over a pile of loose material can be difficult, plus it's a waste of scenic material.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Sculptamold would not move but neither would a foam base with a drop or two of tacky glue. And it could still be moved when necessary.
I've done a number of coal piles over a foam armature. That's what's on the coaling platform in this shot.
I've been thinking it may actually work better to form a base of Sculptamold, to provide a bit more weight to stay in one place. The foam ones tend to "migrate" with the slightest bump or breeze.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Bruce:
I would suggest a pink or blue foam chunk shaped like the pile you want.
Then coat it with latex craft paint black of course, and sprinkle on a coat of scale coal while the paint is still wet.
Then you can use the coal you saved to make coal car loads the same way.
Dave
You could build a support out of something simple like foam insulation, cut to shape, paint it black, and then glue enough scale coal to cover it.
Mike
How would you model an HO pile of coal? A large enough one to use with a conveyor up to a steamers tender. It would take a whole bag of scale coal but that may be the best after all.
73
Bruce in the Peg